Roundup: Common Viral Infections can Raise Risks of Cardiovascular Events; and More News

Study: Viral Infections Can Sharply Increase Heart Attack, Stroke Risks

New research finds that common viral infections can significantly increase a person's risk for serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. A comprehensive review of 155 scientific studies, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights both short-term and long-term health risks associated with certain viruses.

The review found that acute respiratory infections, such as influenza (the flu) and COVID-19, are linked to a dramatic spike in cardiovascular risk in the weeks immediately following the illness.

According to the analysis, individuals were:

• Four times more likely to have a heart attack and five times more likely to have a stroke in the month after a confirmed flu infection.

• Three times more likely to have a heart attack and a stroke in the 14 weeks following a COVID-19 infection, with the risk remaining elevated for up to a year.

Why does this happen? When your body fights a virus, it launches an immune response. This response involves releasing molecules that cause inflammation and make the blood more prone to clotting. While this is a normal part of fighting off an infection, these effects can linger even after you feel better.

Inflammation is a known factor in cardiovascular disease. It can contribute to the buildup of plaque in your arteries—a condition called atherosclerosis. If these plaques become unstable and rupture, they can form a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart (causing a heart attack) or the brain (causing a stroke). The increased tendency for blood to clot during and after an infection further raises this risk.

Chronic Infections and Long-Term Dangers

The study also examined viruses that can remain in the body for long periods, known as chronic infections. These viruses were found to elevate the long-term risk of cardiovascular events over an average of more than five years.

The findings for chronic viral infections include:

• HIV: A 60 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 45% higher risk of stroke.

• Hepatitis C: A 27 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 23% higher risk of stroke.

• Varicella-Zoster Virus (Shingles): A 12 percent higher risk of heart attack and an 18 percent higher risk of stroke.

While these percentages are lower than the short-term risks from the flu or COVID-19, they are still significant. The risk is persistent over a long time, contributing to a greater number of heart attacks and strokes across the population. Shingles, for instance, affects about one in three people in their lifetime, making its connection to cardiovascular health a widespread concern.

Prevention May Be Key

The researchers emphasize that these findings highlight the importance of preventive measures. Vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, and shingles may play a crucial role in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

For example, previous research has shown that flu vaccination is associated with a significantly lower risk of major cardiovascular events. By preventing the initial infection, vaccination helps people avoid the subsequent inflammation and clotting issues that can lead to severe heart and brain health problems. This is especially important for individuals who already have heart disease or related risk factors.

Women May See Greater Heart Health Benefits from Exercise Than Men, Study Finds

New research suggests that when it comes to exercise and heart health, the benefits may differ significantly between men and women. A recent study found that women may not need to exercise as much as men to achieve the same or even greater reductions in their risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Understanding the Study and Key Terms

The study analyzed data from over 85,000 adults using wearable activity trackers, providing an objective measure of their physical activity. Researchers focused on a specific type of exercise called moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This includes activities that get your heart rate up, like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming.

They also looked at coronary heart disease (CHD), which is the most common type of heart disease. CHD happens when the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart attacks.

The goal was to see how meeting the standard exercise guideline of 150 minutes of MVPA per week affected CHD risk differently in men and women.

What Did the Research Uncover?

The findings highlight a notable difference in how men and women benefit from the same amount of exercise.

For individuals without pre-existing CHD, the study showed that women who met the 150-minute weekly exercise guideline had a 22 percent lower risk of developing the disease compared to those who didn't. Men who met the same guideline saw a 17 percent lower risk.

More strikingly, the research revealed that women achieved a 30 percent reduction in CHD risk with about 250 minutes of exercise per week (just over four hours). For men to see a similar level of benefit, they needed to exercise for 530 minutes per week (nearly nine hours). This indicates that women may get more "bang for their buck" from each minute of exercise.

Benefits for Those Already with CHD

The study also examined a group of participants who already had CHD to see how physical activity affected their risk of death from any cause. Here, the differences were even more pronounced.

Active women with CHD experienced a 70% reduction in mortality risk compared to their inactive counterparts. In contrast, active men with CHD saw a 19 percent reduction in risk. This suggests that for women already living with heart disease, regular physical activity is an especially powerful tool for improving longevity.

Why Does This Matter for You?

These findings do not change the fundamental truth that exercise is crucial for everyone's heart health. The recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week remains a valuable target for both men and women.

However, this research underscores that a "one-size-fits-all" approach may not be the most effective strategy. The results are particularly encouraging for women, who, according to global data, tend to be less physically active than men. The knowledge that they can achieve substantial health benefits, potentially with less time commitment than men, could serve as powerful motivation.

The study emphasizes the value of personalized health strategies. By using data from wearable devices, researchers can better understand these sex-specific differences. This could lead to more tailored exercise recommendations in the future, helping both men and women optimize their activity levels for the best possible heart health outcomes.

Taking Longer Walks Linked to Better Health, Study Finds

New research suggests that the way people accumulate their daily steps could be as important as the total number of steps they take. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that individuals who take their steps in longer, more purposeful walks may have a lower risk of early death and heart-related diseases compared to those who take their steps in short, sporadic bursts.

The Study's Focus on Walking Patterns

Researchers analyzed data from over 33,000 adults who were considered "sub-optimally active," meaning they walked 8,000 or fewer steps per day. The goal was to see if the length of walking sessions, or "bouts," made a difference in health outcomes, regardless of the total daily step count.

Participants were divided into four groups based on their primary walking pattern:

• Walks lasting less than 5 minutes.

• Walks lasting 5 to 10 minutes.

• Walks lasting 10 to 15 minutes.

• Walks lasting 15 minutes or longer.

The study followed these individuals for an average of 9.5 years to track two key health outcomes: all-cause mortality (death from any cause) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Key Findings: Longer Bouts, Lower Risks

The results showed a clear trend: the longer the walking bouts, the lower the risk for both mortality and CVD.

For individuals who took most of their steps in short bursts of less than 5 minutes, the risk of death from any cause was 4.36 percent. This risk dropped significantly for those who walked in longer sessions. It was 1.83 percent for those in the 5-to-10-minute group and less than 1 percent for those walking 10 minutes or more at a time.

The connection was even more striking for cardiovascular disease. People who primarily walked in short, sub-5-minute bursts had a 13.03 percent risk of developing CVD. In contrast, those who accumulated their steps in walks of 15 minutes or longer saw their risk drop to just 4.39 percent.

These benefits were especially noticeable in the most sedentary participants—those taking fewer than 5,000 steps per day. For this group, incorporating longer, continuous walks was strongly linked to a reduced risk of death and heart disease.

What This Means for Your Daily Routine

This research highlights the potential health benefits of structuring physical activity. While any movement is better than none, the study suggests that consolidating steps into longer, more intentional walks may provide greater protective effects.

For people who are less active, the findings offer a practical goal: aim to include at least one or two longer walks in your day. Instead of just relying on the steps you get walking around the house or office, setting aside 10, 15, or more minutes for a continuous walk could be a simple yet powerful way to improve long-term health.